Everything is Going to Be Amazing

[This is the first post of Jo Bell’s 52 project, which ran for the 52 weeks of 2014 and is now a book published by Nine Arches Press. We’ve made this one available again as a taster of what’s to come… buy the book here or follow @52poetry on Twitter to see extracts and poems taken from it.]

Are you sitting comfortably? Never mind. Let’s begin anyway. Welcome to 52, a weekly kick in the arse for your Muse. Bookmark us or follow us – there will be guest blogs from big names and unexpected sources; prompts, discussions and projects.

What is poetry for? Everything. Every damn thing. Poetry can tell us how to live, question how we live, remind us how we choose to live. You may be here because you have committed to writing one poem a week for the whole year. But if you haven’t – or if you fall off the waggon now and then – that’s fine. Just drop in now and then; you’re always welcome. Leave a comment, offer up favourite poems on the theme.

But mostly – give yourself just an hour a week to write, at least. And an hour a week to read others’ poetry, at least.

This week our idea, our theme, our suggestion is – how to approach a year. Those of you who expected JOY as a theme – that’s in here too. First, listen to this quiet little celebration from Derek Mahon, or read it here. Now brace yourselves and read this riotous piece.

You don’t have to like either of these pieces to see what they mean. So roll up your sleeves. Sit down and write in this spirit – about how you are going to tackle 2014.

52 is NOT about writing half-assed workshop-standard poetry. Write the very best you can. Push yourself. Use your poetry to help you work out what you think about the world, or to express the truths you hold self-evident. Take risks. It’s only paper, you know.